Effect of Staking and Pruning on the Growth and Yield of Cucumber (<i>Cucumis Sativus</i> L.)

Abstract

A field trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of pruning and staking on the vegetative growth and yield of cucumber ( Cucumis sativus L.). The experiment was a 3 x 2 factorial laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with five replications. The results showed that vine length, number of flowers, total number of fruits and the number of non-marketable fruits were higher on the nonstaked treatment while staking resulted in a higher number of marketable fruits, weight, length and diameter of fruits. The unpruned plants produced the highest total number of fruits, marketable andnon-marketable fruits while the weight, length and diameter of fruits were highest on one stem pruning. Staking, pruning and their interaction had no significant effect on the number of days to 50% anthesis. In Abakaliki agro-ecological zone, non-staking and non-pruning treatments producedoptimum marketable yield of cucumber.